Arabica Coffee Premium Jumps to 2011 High on Supply Fears

An employee lays out Arabica coffee beans at a coffee farm in Alahan Panjang, Indonesia.

Photographer: Dimas Ardian/Bloomberg

Arabica’s premium over robusta coffee rose to levels last seen in 2011 on worries over tight supplies of the high-end beans.

The most-active arabica contract rose as much as 2.1% in New York to $3.930 a pound, the highest since May 7. Prices of the variety preferred by chains like Starbucks Corp. have rallied after disappointing yields reported at the end of harvest in top producer Brazil.